Autophagy is the process by which the body’s cells “clean up” any foreign or damaged components. Researchers have connected autophagy to several positive health effects. You can check for more info on autophagy at https://lifeapps.io/fasting/autophagy-the-recycling-mechanism-that-delays-aging-and-prevents-disease/. This article examines what autophagy is, how it can affect your health, and how it relates to fasting.
What is Autophagy?
Although “eating yourself” is the definition of autophagy, rest assured that this is a positive thing. Your cells clean up damaged cellular components through the autophagy process, which helps produce healthy cells. You can get sick if autophagy isn’t fully activated because it’s essential for healthy, functioning cells. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most well-known conditions where this dead protein accumulates. The dead proteins migrate to the brain and are stuck there because they are never flushed out of the body, causing the hallmark plaques of the disease.
Consider it a robotic vacuum in your home that goes to work when things get messy. It cleans up trash and other unwanted items, giving you a nicer look.
Changes in Diet Can Increase Autophagy
Remember that the word “autophagy” means “self-eating.” It seems logical since the ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting promote autophagy. About 75% of your daily calories on a ketogenic diet come from fat, while only 5% to 10% come from carbohydrates. This change in calorie sources results in changes in your body’s metabolic pathways. It will start using fat as fuel instead of glucose obtained from carbohydrates. Your body will respond to this limitation by producing ketone bodies, which have many beneficial properties. Exercise is a non-nutritional factor that can potentially help stimulate autophagy. According to one study, exercise can induce autophagy in organs involved in metabolic control processes. Muscle, liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue can all be part of it.
Autophagy Health Benefits
Autophagy has far-reaching benefits like:
The Body May Age in a Healthy Way
We all age, but have you ever noticed that some people age faster than others, physically and mentally? According to recent research, the body can age healthily by repairing pathways and activating autophagy in normal cells.
Help Reduce Weight
A deficiency of autophagy is associated with obesity and related metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance and diabetes. However, evidence suggests that increased autophagy may help remove damaged proteins and help reduce weight and other problems.
Decreased Inflammation
By regulating the activities of various inflammatory cells, such as macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and cytokines, autophagy aids in the resolution of inflammation.
Improve Brain Health
Autophagy helps remove damaged proteins accumulating in the brain to slow the aging process and brain-related disorders.
Lowers the Danger of Heart Disease
Increasing autophagy can help remove damaged cardiac cells, maintain your heart’s health, and prevent atherosclerosis. Although autophagy has some pretty remarkable benefits, there is no miraculous internal switch that can turn it on and off. If you want to benefit from autophagy, make intermittent fasting a regular part of your life.
